Checklist After a Flood: Salvage These Household Belongings

Flood is among the most destructive natural disasters property owners experience. It can damage or destroy houses, infrastructure, and belongings. If your property has been flooded, it’s crucial to act quickly to salvage as much as possible.

Tips on Deciding What Items Should Be Saved

This checklist will help you assess what can be saved and how to go about doing it:

• Start by sorting through everything wet. Anything that is made of paper, like books, magazines, and photographs, should be thrown away. Mud-covered items can usually be cleaned and saved.
• If an item is only slightly wet, you may be able to salvage it by cleaning and drying it thoroughly. Disinfect all surfaces with a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) before using them again.
• Food that has come into contact with flood water should be thrown away, as it may be contaminated.
• If an item is too big or heavy to clean and dry by yourself, you may need to hire a professional restoration company (learn more here).

What to Keep

1. Furniture

Since furniture is expensive to replace right away, try to salvage as much as possible. Upholstered furniture can usually be cleaned and deodorized if it has been soaked in water. Wood furniture may need to be refinished if it has sustained water damage, but it can be salvaged if the damage is not too severe. However, if the wood is warped or the upholstery is torn, it is best to replace it.

2. Appliances

If your appliances are still working, you may be able to salvage them. However, if they have been submerged in water, it is best to replace them. Call a professional to clean and deodorize your appliances to prevent mold and mildew from growing. They can also assess the damage and tell you if your appliances are safe.

3. Carpeting

Carpeting that floodwaters have soaked is difficult to clean and disinfect and is also a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Roll up the carpet and set it in the sun to dry. Once it’s dry, you can vacuum it and treat it with a disinfectant solution. 

It’s always safe to get rid of it if it has been contaminated with sewage. Contact a professional carpet cleaner if you’re not sure what to do.

4. Photo Albums and Books

If the photo album is made of paper, there’s a good chance it can be saved. If the photos are stuck to the pages, gently separate them and let them dry separately. If the photos are wrinkled, you can try ironing them on a low setting. You can put them back in the album once they’re dry. It might be harder to restore if the photo album is made of cloth or other materials.

On the other hand, books can usually be restored if they’re made of paper. Gently brush off any mud or dirt and let them dry separately. Once they’re dry, you can flatten them out with a heavy book or put them under something heavy overnight.

5. Baby Clothes and Toys

Baby clothes made of silk, wool, and polyester can usually be restored if they’re soaked with floodwater since they can resist mold and mildew. Wash them in a bleach solution and let them air dry.

Toys made of plastic can also be cleaned and disinfected with a bleach solution. If they’re soaked with sewage, it’s best to get rid of them.

6. Documents

If your documents, such as birth certificates and passports, are soaked with water, you can try to salvage them. Freeze them until they’re dry, and then take them to a professional restoration company.

7. Electronics

Many electronics are expensive to replace, so you may want to try to salvage them if they’ve been soaked in floodwater. You should turn off the power and remove the batteries first. Then, let the electronics air dry. If possible, disassemble them and let each piece air dry separately. Once they’re dry, you can clean them with a disinfectant solution.

If you’re unsure of what to do, bring it to a professional immediately to check if it can be repaired.

8. Jewelry

If your jewelry has been soaked in floodwater, you’ll need to clean it as soon as possible. First, gently brush off any mud or dirt and let the jewelry soak in a bowl of cool water. Then, wash it in your sink with mild soap and cool water. Dry it with a soft cloth. You must take it to a professional to have it cleaned and inspected for damage.

What Not to Keep

These items should not be kept for home restoration after a disaster:

• Clothing
• Food
• Linens
• Plastic items
• Leather items
• Warped hardwood furniture
• Cosmetics
• Insulation
• Drywall
• Upholstered furniture

What Are the Exemptions?

Some items above may be exempt from the lists above if they have sentimental value or are otherwise irreplaceable. In these cases, you may want to take extra care to restore them. On the other hand, furniture that can be replaced may not be worth trying to restore.

In the end, it’s ultimately up to you to decide what’s worth keeping and what isn’t. When in doubt, look for a professional water damage restoration company to help you make the best decisions for your home. They have the experience and knowledge to help you through this difficult time.

Ask for referrals from the people you trust who have used them before. You can also find one online by searching “restoration companies near me” to limit your search within your community. As much as possible, hire experts in your area who can come to assess the damage to your home and belongings as soon as possible.